Collapsible container



Sept. 5, 1939. c, w, VOGT 2,171,718

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed Dec. 17, 1935 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 5, 1939 PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER.

Clarence'W. Vogt, New York, N. .Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 17, 1935, Serial No. 54,794

Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible containers which may be shipped or stored in an empty or fiat condition and opened up to the desired size and form for filling. The invention relates more particularly to the type commonly known as bags in which all or substantially all of the walls are of flexible material and in-which the sections are folded inwardly as pleats in collapsing the bag.

The main object of my invention is to provide a bag made of inexpensive material and which is substantially sealed in an inexpensive manner when in collapsed condition so as to prevent the entry of foreign matter and prevent contamination of the inner surfaces of the walls.

A further object is to provide a bag having a pleat or fold in one wall so constructed and so arranged that it may be provided with a filling or emptying opening intermediate of the ends of the pleat and which may be opened by the spac ing of the opposite walls of the pleat or fold.

As one important feature of my invention the bag is formed of a tube of sheet material folded longitudinally to form reentrant lateral folds connecting the front and rear walls of the tube, both ends of the tube being sealed by folding or by a separate sealing member prior to filling, and the filling and emptying being efiected through a pleat adapted to be cut, unsealed or opened up to permit the passage of the material into or out of the tube.

By means of my invention the complete bag may be made and sealed at opposite ends at low cost, shipped or stored in this condition, readily opened and supported for filling, and readily opened for dispensing the contents in whole or in part.

The filling of the bag is efiected through an opening in the pleat whereby the filling serves to distend the -bag to its full capacity and without applying strain tending to separate the two side walls of the pleat and between which the filling material is introduced. The bag after being filled may be stored or shipped with or without being inserted or packed in outer containers or cases 'adapted for one or any desired number of such should be impermeable to liquids either by reason of the nature of the base material formingthe sheet or by reason of surface coatings or other treating compounds.

The ends of the bag may be sealed in various ways, but preferably by means of metal clips which may be applied before or after the superposed walls forming the tube at the end of the latter are bent back upon themselves to form a seam.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated certain embodiments of my invention and also illustrated the parts and steps which may be employed in making the bag.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet which may be employed for making three of the side walls of the bag,

Fig. 2 is a perspective viewof asheet which may be employed for making the other side wall and forming the pleat,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tube section resulting from sealing the sheets together, but before closing the ends, a

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a closed and v distended bag,

Fig. 5, is a perspective view illustrating the method which may be employed for filling the Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the filling opening sealed,

Fig. '7 is a transverse section on the line '|--l of Fig. 5, the pleat being folded outwardly of the length of the bag,

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional details showing the sealing of the ends of the bag,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a sealing device for the opening of the pleat,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 3,' but'showing a slight modification,

Fig. 12 is a view of the form shown in Fig. 11, but with the end of the bag sealed,

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a sealing device which may be employed in place of that shown in Fig. 10-, and

Fig. 14 is a section similar to Fig. '7, but showing an alternative construction.

In forming the bag there are employed two sheets 10 and II of thin flexible material and which may be of a thickness and strength depending upon the size of the bag to be formed, and of a character so far as permeability is concerneddependent upon the nature of the liquid or other material for which the bag is to be used.

The sheet in is rectangular and of a length substantially equal to the desired length of the bag when the latter is in collapsed condition.

It is of a width slightly greater than the width of three sides of the bag when the latter is in distended condition. This sheet includes a center panel l2 corresponding in width to what may be considered the back of the bag, and two panels l3 each of a width substantially equal to the two side walls of the bag. The sheet may have fold lines indicated in dash lines between these separate panels, and the panels l3 may have fold lines midway between their opposite edges so as to facilitate the infolding of the side walls. At opposite edges of the sheet are narrow flaps or marginal portions l4 which may have adhesive applied thereto for the securing of the other sheet II in case there is no adhesive applied to the parts of the sheet H with which the edge portions of the sheet l0 engage.

The sheet H is of a width substantially equal to the panel l2 of the sheet l0 and may serve as a front wall of the bag. It has adhesive applied along the opposite edges of at least the part going to make up the pleat, and may have it along the entire length of said edge portions.

The sheet H is of a length somewhat greater than that of the sheet 10 and has three fold lines extending transversely thereof adjacent to but spaced from one end to form two sections l5 which may be brought together to form the pleat hereinbefore referred to. The difference in length of the sheets [0 and II is substantially equal to the combined widths of the two transverse sections l5.

In assembling the two sheets to form a tube the edge portions of the sheet II are adhesively secured to the edge portions I4 of the sheet l0, and the panels I3 are bent at their edges and intermediate of their edges to form the infolds as shown in Fig. 3. The sheet I l is folded on the three transverse fold lines so as to form the pleat It also shown in Fig. 3. It will be understood that the tube as shown in Fig. 3 may be made merely by the use of two rectangular sheets shown in Figs. 1' and 2 or that said rectangular sheets l0 and II may be merely successive sections of the sheet material which are progres sively folded, brought together and adhesively secured to form a long continuous tube which may be cut into successive sections of the type shown in Fig. 3 as rapidly as the long tube is produced.

After making the tube as shown in Fig. 3 the superposed layers on each end are sealed together so as to close the bag at both ends. Adhesive may be applied to the surfaces which come together at the end of the bag, or in some cases the adhesive may be omitted and some other sealing means employed.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a U-shaped metal clip I1 which may be pinched onto the end of the bag to effectively close it.

In Fig. 9 the end walls are shown as being I slightly longer so as to provide sufficient material for folding over to make a seam l8, the super posed layers of which may be glued together, or these superposed layers may be pinched and held together by a U-shaped metal clip.

The distance between the transverse pleat I6 shown in Fig. 3 and the adjacent end of the tube is preferably somewhat greater than one-half the width of a side wall l3 so that upon distending the bag as shown in Fig. 14 the pleat will come along the angle of intersection of the top and front wall of the bag, and the transverse seal or seam will extend transversely across the top.

In sealing the sheets I0 and I together the two For filling the bag an opening is provided in the outer or fold edge of the pleat. This opening may be produced in the sheet H at the proper point before the bag is made, or may be cut in the pleat after the bag has been completed.

As shown in Fig. 2 the sheet I I is provided with an opening I9 so positioned that it forms a substantially semi-circular notch or recess in the outer edge of the pleat as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

For filling the bag a filling tube, funnel or the like may be inserted through the opening as shown in Fig. 5 and as the material enters the bag it will be distended from its original flat collapsed condition to its distended condition. The bag may be supported by a pair of clamps gripping the opposite end portions of the pleat, and as the two surfaces are here sealed together it will do no harm if the clamps pierce the material or even enter previously formed perforations therein to prevent slipping of the pleat out of the clamps as the bag is distended by the entering material. For readily fiowable materials the bag will be distended by the material as it enters if the bag walls be thin or freely flexible or if the material be supplied under pressure or at high velocity. If the bag walls be comparatively stiff or if the filling material be light or not readily fiowable, the bag may be distended before filling. After the filling of the bag and the removal of the filling tube, funnel or the like, the side walls of the pleat will come substantially together and the pleat may be folded flat against the top wall or downwardly against the front wall of the bag.

For some materials it may not be necessary to seal the opening l9, but for liquids it is preferable to seal the opening. For this purpose there may be employed a substantially U-shaped clip 2| shown in Fig. 10 of a size somewhat greater than that of the opening and adapted to be pinched or sealed onto the pleat [6 to completely cover the opening as shown in Fig. 6. This clip may be made of sheet metal and maybe pinched in place either by hand or by means of a suitable tool, or it may be made of paper or other more flexible sheet material and may be coated on its inner side with adhesive so that upon pinching it onto the pleat it will hermetically seal the opening.

In Fig. 13 I have shown a disc 22 having adhesive upon one surface thereof and which may be folded transversely and used as the seal. Upon applying the adhesive to the sheet II to provide for the sealing together of the ends of the pleat, an annular strip of. adhesive may also. be applied around the hole l9 as shown in Fig. 11 and in that case the disc or other piece of sheet material which is used as the closure need not have adhesive directly applied thereto.

As previously noted it is not essential that there be adhesive employed in sealing together the ends of the bag as this may be done by a metal clip with or without folding over the superposed layers. In some cases I may use adhesive exclusively at the ends and without the metal clip. As shown in Fig. 11 the ends of the l4 and to such an extent as would cause slight.

plastic character so that upon pressing the walls together, as shown in Fig. 12, and by applying the required amount of heat, the end of the bag will be effectively and completely closed and sealed. For most purposes this is not as satisfactory as bending over the walls as shown in Fig. 9 and with a metal clip to hold them in the bent sealed condition.

I have previously referred to closing the filling opening by a closure member which merely covers the hole and the area around it. The sealing may be efiected by bending the pleat intermediate of its edges and holding it in this sealed condition by a U-shaped metal clip, such as the clip I! used for sealing the ends.

When it isdesired to openthe bag a corner of the pleat l6 may be cut oil, or the sealing closure may be pulled off or in some cases the pleat employed as a tab .for tearing the bag open if the entire contents is to-be dispensed at once.

If the bag is to be used for a liquid, and if the walls of the bag-be formed of coated paper, it is possible that in some instances the liquid may seep into the opposite edges of the sealing flaps leakage or discoloration. In order to prevent any out edges or uncoated surfaces from contact with the material within'the bag the sealing flaps l4 shown in Fig. l'may be made of approximately double width and folded first inwardly made very much narrower in width, and the .sheet Ill be madewijderps'o that' marglnal por- "tions of the sheet.- lgewouid' cooperate with the be made comparatively narrow andithe opening. I! be mereLv a slit extendihgthia'iull length or sheet II in forming theiirbnfi'walloi the bag.

- In that event the pleatfl'fi instead of extending? the full width oi the frbntwall'would extend. only a portion of such widthas' the length of n the pleat will correspond direc ly Withthe width: of the sheet H. In soinecases the sheet?! i may,

substantially the full length of the fold, except for the marginal seals.

Having thus described my claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A container Icomprising a tube of flexible sheet material, including two sections, one adapt-. ed to form three walls of. the tube and the other adapted to form a fourth wall, said last-mentioned section havinga transverse pleat intermediate of its ends, and separate sealing strips securing together the sheets at the end of the tube to close the seam.

2. A bag formed of a. tube of flexible sheet material having infolded opposite sides, separate members connecting together opposite walls of the tube at opposite ends to close the tube at said ends, and a pleat extending transversely of one wall of the bag, said pleat being sealed at its ends and having its outer folded edge provided with a filling or dispensing opening.

3. A bag formed of a tube of flexible sheet material having infolded opposite sides, separate members connecting together opposite walls of the tube at opposite ends to close the tube at said invention, what I ends, a pleat extending transversely of one wall of the bag, said pleat being sealed at its ends and having its outer folded edge provided with a filling or dispensing opening, and a closure for said opening.

4. A bag formed of a tube of flexible sheet material having infolded opposite sides, separate members connecting together opposite walls of the tube at opposite ends to close the tube at said ends, a pleat extending transversely of one wall of the bag,- said pleat being sealed at its ends and having its outer folded edge provided with a flllin'g or dispensing opening, and a U- shaped clipfienclosmg a portion of the folded edge of the pleat and constituting a closure for said openingfiil 15. Aconta-iner comprising a tube of flexible sheet material, said tube being normally in flat collapsed condition, one side of said tube having 'nieansfintermediate of the ends thereof for formanoutlet. opening and pouring spout, and

the ends- .of'lsaid tube having sealing strips for holding the opposite sides of the tube together F 9 Position.

CLARENCE W. VOGT. 5o 

